Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Roger Marshall have introduced the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act, aiming to bolster the U.S. agriculture industry's defense against foreign interference. The legislation proposes adding the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which oversees foreign investment and acquisition of American companies.

The bill also mandates that the Secretary report any transactions posing national security threats, particularly those involving adversarial nations such as China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.

Senator Young emphasized the significance of farmland in Indiana and across the United States: “Nearly two-thirds of land in Indiana – and more than half of all land in the United States – is farmland,” he said. He warned about potential national security threats posed by foreign acquisitions of agricultural land, noting Indiana's proactive stance but calling for nationwide safeguards.

Senator Marshall highlighted the importance of food security: “Food Security is national security, and it’s high time that we start recognizing this before it is too late,” he stated. He stressed that including an agriculture presence on CFIUS would enhance understanding of risks associated with foreign investments affecting farmers and ranchers.

Joining Senators Young and Marshall in supporting this legislation are Senators John Barrasso, Tammy Baldwin, Deb Fischer, and Representative Dan Newhouse, who introduced a companion bill in the House.

Senator Young had previously supported similar legislation during the 118th Congress. Details of the current proposal can be accessed through official congressional resources.